Lydia Cacho

Lydia Cacho is a journalist and author of more than 15 books translated into twelve languages. She has specialised in investigating child pornography, sex trafficking and violence against women and girls. Cacho has been imprisoned for her work and puts her life on the line on behalf of children and women. As a consequence of her unwavering defense of human rights and journalistic freedom, her own life is repeatedly threatened.

Cacho is the first woman in Mexican history that has taken to trial an organised crime ring of child pornography, sexual tourism and women’s trafficking. She filed a successful counter-suit for judicial corruption and for violation of her human rights.

She has received 22 international awards and she is U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for the Blue Heart campaign to abolish human slavery. In 2000 she founded a high security shelter for battered and sexually exploited women and children in Mexico.

She’s a workshop teacher on successful approaches to help trafficking victims, and Community Schools for Peace: a holistic approach to negotiate conflicts. She is working with teenage girls and boys in the ‘I am NOT for sale’ campaign in Mexico, promoting freedom of expression and civil empowerment.